Members of the ELA, Diocesan Chancellors and Deputy Chancellors, and Diocesan Registry Clerks may access the Forum, Documents, Contacts and other sections of the site by logging in with their Usernames and Passwords.
James Spreckley has been appointed Deputy Registrar of the Diocese of Birmingham.
Can it be that one of our members has a new part-time job? To find out more, click here.
Robert Sprake was appointed Deputy Registrar of the Diocese of Worcester on 1 February 2009.
Some further links to other web sites have been added. There is a new section under Links, which includes a link to Mark Hill's new Ecclesiastical Law web site.
The Legal Advisory Commission has produced an Opinion concerning the registration and enforcement of chancel repair liability by PCCs, and the Legal Office has also prepared a list of Questions and Answers. PCCs should also take note of a Statement by English Heritage concerning grant aid for repairs to chancels where there is known to be a Lay Rector liable for chancel repairs.
For all those involved in, or advising on, the playing of recorded music in church, there is an interesting article in the online Law Society Gazette for 27 November 2008. It is important that we remain alert to possible changes in respect of the charitable exemption which currently allows not-for-profit bodies to play recorded music in public, without having to pay a licence fee to Phonographic Performance Ltd.
For registered users who are able to log in, there are two new items in the Documents section. Firstly, under Documents/Miscellaneous, there is an article by Annie Whittingham, Solicitor, of Lichfield Diocesan Registry, containing advice about getting a condition about church attendance included in a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Secondly, under Documents/Churches, there is a revised Opinion of the Legal Advisory Commission concerning liability for nuisance caused by the ringing of church bells.
The new edition of Legal Opinions Concerning the Church of England is available, price £65.00, from Church House Bookshop.
A revised version of Chancel Repair Liability - How to research it, by James Derriman, is available from the publishers, Wildy, Simmonds & Hill, Lincoln's Inn Archway, Carey Street, London WC2A 2JD. Price £19.95. (ISBN 9781898029847)
The Ecclesiastical Law Association is an association of English lawyers